Sparkling Wines, Méthode Wines and Champagne
Celebrations, whether large parties or smaller get-togethers wouldn't be the same without sparkling wine or méthode wine for proper commemoration. Why? Simply put, sparkling wine's effervescent carbon dioxide bubbles get the alcohol into the bloodstream much faster than still wine. Therefore it will create a festive happy atmosphere much quicker. Although you have to be careful that your guests don't get drunk with this alcoholic effervescence so we suggest you have lots of munchies on offer, since the food will help absorb the alcohol.
Sparkling Méthode wine is a wine made in the time-honored Méthode Traditionnelle way of the Champagne region of France. This is done by allowing still wine to ferment for the second time in a sealed bottle in order to produce the natural bubbles that we expect to find in superior sparkling wines. The most recognizable of these of course is the 'Champagne' wine; this is a sparkling wine or méthode wine that comes specifically from the French Champagne region. However this style of wine is now produced in many countries in the traditional manner as well as by a cheaper method in a pressure tank.
Sparkling wine is the world's most diverse wine style. By that we mean it comes in more shapes, sizes and from more countries than any other wine. Every country that makes a wine makes a Méthode sparkling wine, however, there is no mistake about it, the right grapes grown in the right climate, blend together well and made using a traditional method is what is needed to produce a fine sparkling wine, no matter who makes it.
For most occasions, the first question you need to ask yourself is, 'what impression am I trying to make?' When you want to impress and money is not an object, you might want to choose a sparkling wine that is at its most alluring. By this we mean you actually need a special bottle to impress important dinner guests or to make a strong social statement, or even win the heart of the love of your life. But, quality has its consequences; this sparkling wine will not be cheap.
There are two possible avenues of choice. Champagne, yes the French stuff, is the most logical. Make sure the wine you choose is well known. It would be a shame to spend $50 or more on a bottle of champagne if your intended guests thought the wine was a cheap local sparkler. Champagne brands that are instantly recognizable include Bollinger, Taittinger, Pol Roger, Louis Roederer, Piper-Heidesieck and Charles Heidesieck.
Otherwise you can go for some of the cheaper good quality sparkling wines that come from countries such as Australia and New Zealand. They are quite fashionable, but not necessarily as well known. Their currency makes them affordable, yet the history and ability of the wine regions induce considerable quality in their sparkling wines. You might consider buying one of those countries better-known superior sparkling wine brands such as Seppelt, Orlando, Lindemans, Deutz, Pelorus or Daniel Le Brun.
The next choice is, are you going to serve food with the wine? There are two sorts of sparkling wines, those that are best without the complication of food and those that are enhanced by food. Try to match sparkling wines with foods that have a natural high acidity, such as fresh seafood in lemon or lime juice.
Sparkling wines that are good to serve with food tend to be full-flavored wines, often with a high percentage of Pinot Noir grape contents. For something special choose Bollinger which is a more flavorsome champagne. However for larger get-togethers where impressing is not necessarily as high on the list, you might want to try some cheaper alternatives that are food friendly.
Your classic impressive brands are therefore the real Champagnes, such as Bollinger, Lanson, Taittinger, Louis Roederer and if you really want to blow some money, Krug. But there are some new players, such as Seppelt, Stefano Lubiana, or Brown Brothers' from Australia that you might want to consider.
It is said that in the late 17th century, still wine from the Champagne region of France, was sent to Britain, on its long journey to the British shores it had re-fermented in its bottles. The technological advancement of the bottle making process had produced bottles that were strong enough to take this process occurring without exploding. The tighter cork seals made sure the wine did not spill out of the bottles. Therefore the bottles were suitable enough vessel in which the wine could undergo secondary fermentation. Leftover unfermented sugars and remnant yeast in the wine would, when the weather warmed up, convert to alcohol. An interesting by-product was carbon dioxide which gives sparkling wine its effervescence. And that is how champagne was born.
A monk called Dom Pérignon is credited, incorrectly, with the discovery of sparkling wine; however he did have an important involvement in the production of the sparkling wine. His great contribution was in blending the original base wine that went into champagne. This is still one of the most critical steps in the manufacture of sparkling wine, even today, and many famous brands use their individual blends as their signatures.
Only three grape varieties are allowed to be used to make sparkling white wine: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Champagne is a cold area north-east of Paris. The soils are chalky, and the grapes are grown under rather tough conditions, they don't get as ripe as grapes do in some warmer climates. Most of the countries producing sparkling wines will grow their grapes in similar conditions. These three grape varieties like those conditions, and it is advantages to have these grapes grown in cooler climates, because the cold weather keeps natural acidity in the grapes high. Acidity means the wine will have ambitious flavor with a finer, more intense and, more intricate character.
The grapes from each variety are harvested, pressed and fermented into a still white wine. The red grapes, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, are made into white wine by giving them a gentle press to yield white grape juice and then discarding the skins of the grapes which contain the red pigmentation that would normally color the wine. So once these just-ripe grapes are picked, crushed and turned into still white wine, the winemaker comes to the most crucial stage in sparkling wine production, the blending of all the base wines.
The various batches of still wines are carefully blended to produce the characteristics favored by each wine makeing house, region or country. The blending process creates the distinctive signature of each winemaker. This blend is called a cuvée, and the winemaker's selection ration affects the flavor, structure and style of the finished product. More Chardonnay and you've got a light, acidic sparkling wine. More Pinot Noir and the wine will have a strong, rich flavor. More Pinot Meunier and the wine will have a fruitier flavor.
The cuvée or the blend will also determine whether the wine will be a non-vintage or vintage wine. Simply put, if anything less than 85 per cent of the total wine comes from the grapes of more than one vintage or year, the wine must be labeled non-vintage (NV). Some people think vintage wines are better than non-vintage, but that's not always the case.
One of the most remarkable things about sparkling wine is that it's made in the bottle. Once the base wine has been blended, it goes into very strong 'Champagne' bottles with an addition of yeast, sugar and a fine white clay called bentonite. The yeast cells ferment the sugar and in the process produce the bubbles of carbon dioxide gas that are retained in the sealed bottle, all this happens over a six-week period.
Once the fermentation stops the dead yeast cells form sediment along the wall of the horizontal bottle. After a while the yeast cells start to break down, adding texture and a yeasty flavor to the wine. This gives the wine its nutty smells and flavors and may resemble the flavor of bread or biscuits. This whole process is called yeast autolysis. The more time that a wine spends in contact with the yeasty sediment the more yeasty flavored it becomes.
The dead yeast cells can lie in the bottle from three to seven years. A French term for the period that the Méthode sparkling wine spends in contact with the dead yeast before they are removed is called en tirage. A minimum of one year for non-vintage Champagne is normal; however this period can vary up to ten years. When the wine has spent sufficient time on the yeast, or en tirage, the yeast must be removed and the wine corked and labeled to prepare it for the market. While the bottle is en tirage it is typically sealed with a crown seal or beer bottle cap.
To remove the sediment the wine was traditionally 'riddled' a process of rocking the bottle back and forth and gradually tipping it from horizontal to a upside down vertical position until the dead yeast sediment settles into the bottleneck. When the wine is riddled manually the process can take about three months. Today it is performed by computer-driven wine racks and takes about a week. As the bottle is rocked from side to side and raised to a vertical upside-down position the sediment gradually creeps towards the neck of the bottle with the help of the larger beads of bentonite clay that drag the yeast cells with them.
When the yeast has collected in the neck of the bottle the neck is dipped into a freezing solution, trapping the yeast in a plug of ice. This frozen end or lump of yeast is then removed or disgorged. The bottle is topped up with more sparkling wine and sugar syrup or liqueured, and sealed with a proper 'Champagne' cork and a wire cage or muselet before being labeled and prepared for sale. This entire process is called Méthode Traditionnelle and means the traditional method.
As you can see, it is a labor-intensive process, which is why some cheaper sparkling wine producers will cheat in the wine making process by carbonating still wine in a big pressure tank. However, these wine makers cannot use Méthode Traditionnelle on the labels of their sparkling wine, and that is your key to choosing a properly made sparkling wine.
But, sparkling wine can also be oxidative or reductive in nature, the difference being how much breathing the wine is allowed during the fermentation process. Oxidative is a term used to describe a style of sparkling that is allowed greater access to air during the winemaking process. These wines tend to be less fruity and have more 'aldehyde' or oxidized alcohol flavors, producing a slightly sherry like character. Reductive is a term that describes a wine made with minimal air contact to give a fruitier, less aldehydic character. 'Reductive' also refers to the development of hydrogen-sulphide characters such as egg yolk that sometimes appears in wines made without air contact.
Masculine or feminine? Is there such a thing in sparkling wines? This is a game you can play when you are getting silly on the alcoholic bubbles. Masculine styles are commonly accepted as having a bold influence on your taste buds, are acidic, need food, are low on fruity, light flavors and are strongly textured. Masculine sparkling wines are more biscuity, honeyed, nutty and savory, flavors that come from the yeast sitting around in the bottle for longer periods of time. They are more one-glass Champagnes rather than the whole bottle, such as Bollinger.
Feminine styles are creamier, they can seem sweeter by being less harshly acidic, yet can still carry some weight. These are the kind of wines you might drink a bottle of in good company. Moët is considered a feminine sparkling wine. Feminine sparkling wines are cute and fruity wines and can remind you of tastes and smells of ripe apples, pears and lemon blossoms.
Cold climates make grape-growing a more expensive endeavor, and as you can see, the process of producing a fine sparkling wine is labor-intensive; therefore price proves to be a reasonably effective guide to quality.
There are a few things to look out for when buying this type of wine. Anything in a heavy bottle or with 'méthode traditionelle' somewhere on the label means the wine has been made in the bottle and not in the pressure tank. This type is generally better than the cheap stuff that has been made in a tank, so you are paying for the quality of the wine.
It's worth spending a bit more to buy sparkling wine made in the traditional style. If you are eager to compare what the best sparkling wine can do, then by all means go ahead. But, at around $20 to $30 a bottle, you are still going to get good wine, and because making sparkling wine is such a labor-intensive and tricky process, the big companies tend to do it better at this price.
A wide variety of styles and prices allows sparkling wine drinkers to match a wine to every occasion. 'Champagne' always stands out as the queen of sparkling wines and is the benchmark for Méthode sparkling wines, deserving its exalted status as the best in the business.
Very Affordable Range
Orlando NV Trilogy Cuvée Brut
Lindemans 2001 Bin 25 Chardonnay Brut Cuvée (Australia)
Seppelt Fleur De Lys Chardonnay/Pinot Noir NV
Brown Brothers Pinot Noir/Chardonnay NV
Seaview Sparkling Shiraz (Australian)
Sir James Pinot Noir Chardonnay NV
Value and Style in a Bottle
Seppelt 1998 Original Sparkling Shiraz
Yarra Burn Pinot Noir/Chardonnay/Pinot Meunier 2000
Yarrabank Thibaut & Gillet Cuvée 1998
Something Special Is Called For
Irvine NV Merlot Brut
Very Affordable
Viña Manquehue Fresita
Something Special Is Called For
Ayala NV Brut
Abel Lepitre NV Brut Idéale Cuvée
Champagne Pannier NV Brut
Champagne Jacquart NV Brut Tradition
When You Need To Impress
Pommery NV Brut Rosé
Louis Roederer NV Brut Premier Champagne
Taittinger NV Brut Réserve
Pol Roger NV Extra Cuvée De Réserve
Champagne Marc Chauvet Club 1996
Piper-Heidesieck Champagne Brut NV
Charles Heidesieck 1997 Brut Réserve Mis En Cave
Life Altering Impression Needed
Pommery Brut Millesime 1996 Grand Cru
Champagne Bollinger 1995 Grand Année
Pommery 1995 Cuvée Louise
Very Affordable
Riccadonna Asti
Very Affordable
Lindauer Fraise
Value and Style in a Bottle
Family Estate Cuvée Number Eight NV Brut
Deutz Marlborough NV Cuvée Brut
Something Special Is Called For
Deutz 1999 Blanc De Blancs
Daniel Le Brun 1997 Blanc de Blancs
Daniel Le Brun 1997 Vintage
Choosing a Sparkling Wine
You have so many choices to make, when you are choosing a sparkling wine. Do you want a drier or sweeter sparkling wine? Would you like the true French Champagne or one of the many fine sparkling wines from the many countries that make them? How much do you want to pay? Do you want vintage or non vintage, and is there a difference? And these days even the color of your sparkling wine is a matter of choice, you can have the traditional White, or a Red and the newest member to join the team a Rosé.How Champagne Came To Be
So how did this great mood enhancer begin its existence? Like some of the other of the world's greatest drinks, by accident. It did start its existence in the Champagne region of France; however it was actually born out at sea.Making Sparkling Wines
That original process has been refined by modern technology, although the basic principle remains the same today. In short, grapes grown in a cold climate are pressed into still wine which is then blended and allowed to re-ferment in bottles for the second time.Character of the Sparkling Wine
The flavors in Méthode sparkling wine are determined by three major factors: the ripeness and mix of the grapes; the yeasty influence from bottle maturation or en tirage; and the time of bottle ageing after the sediment has been removed. Some people prefer aged sparkling wine, but the great majority of such wines are better enjoyed young, freshness is crucial when buying a good non-vintage sparkling wine.Paying for Your Sparkling Wine
There is a wide range of prices that you can pay for sparkling wine. The cheaper versions that are produced in the pressure tanks can start from as low as a few dollars. However the sparkling wines that are produced in the Méthode Traditionnelle way will be more costly and would rarely, if ever, be less than $10. The better known French made brands can even be in the hundreds of dollars.Sparkling Wine Review
The wines reviewed include bold sparkling wines and others that are light and delicate. There are wines with knife edge acidity and others with a texture as soft as freshly whipped cream. In some you can taste the familiar flavors of ripe fruit while others have more mysterious flavors that may vaguely resemble roasted nuts or French bread. They have all been re-fermented in the bottle and are therefore all entitled to be described as Méthode Traditionnelle.Australian Sparkling Wines
Orlando Trilogy is a fine example of non-vintage sparkling wine. Orlando called this wine Trilogy because it comprised of the three main grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier and is balanced with ripe apple flavors that are polished and smooth. Wines from several different vintages, were carefully blended, the cuvée has sat on its yeast lees for approximately 24 months before release. The aromas are intriguing, including cider and malt extract. This means the wine has creamy, biscuity yeast characteristics, which are complemented by delicate fruit flavors. Match Trilogy with delicious, exotic foods such as Asian or barbecue. A luxurious yet refreshing drink ideal for any occasion.
The price doesn't do this wine justice and is certainly no indicator of the quality of this wine. This elegant sparkling wine has a silken texture with a soft and lingering finish. A full-flavored wine with an appealing poached pear and toasty, citrus flavors. A pleasure to drink.
Another bargain non-vintage sparkling wine whose price belies the class and quality you get. The flavors in this drink vary from a stone-fruity to a lovely nutty. It is clean with enough richness and smooth texture to easily outshine all other in its class. Great for a party, make sure you serve it very well chilled.
Brown Brothers could charge a lot more for this elegant sparkling wine, and is yet another bargain which is not reflected in the quality of this wine. Cool-climate of the growing region means the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes have lots of natural acidity. Showing the expertise of the Brown Brothers winery, they were gently pressed and expertly blended to produce this pale lemon-colored, fluffy, honeyed yet taught and appley sparkling white wine.
Sparkling Shiraz is a bit of an Australian classic. Only Australians would marry the alcoholic power of Shiraz grapes with the effervescent effect of bubbles. Squashed mulberries and wet earth are the smells, blackberry jam the taste. It is a ripe and sweetly liqueured red wine. Make sure you serve it very well chilled, and it will get any occasion off to a fantastic start. It handles food flavors wonderfully well including charred BBQ meats.
This is a very good value dry sparkling white wine with lots of appeal. It falls into what wine connoisseurs refer to as aperitif style, being dry and crisp. This one is lemony in color and a little appley in flavor with just a touch of breadiness about it. Classic sparkling wine smells, but the flavors are not so rich or complex as to be too demanding on your tongue or your mind. Drink this for the holiday season or any time of the year. Serious sparkling wine at a great price.
One of the best sparkling reds available it continues showing good, rich and warming Shiraz flavors and some autolysis. The flavors are plum and spice with an earthy softness. Very attractive wine that is both supple and balanced. It is not at all jammy or cloying - an excellent example of the classic sparkling red Burgundy style. However there is a limited supply available so it might be difficult to find.
This is a classic champenoise blend from a vintage year made in the traditional method by one of Australia's finest winemakers, Ed Carr, has been bottle age for a while. The flavors range from wild strawberry to a bit of crème brulee; it has soft bubbles, a creamy texture and some very good liqueuring - giving it richness atop a clean acid base.
If you are looking for a well priced and sophisticated méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine, this is it. It has just the right amount of acidity, which keeps the wine on track all the way through your mouth. The smells and tastes are of sour apples, very well chilled cream, and a touch of vanilla. The flavors are layered through a steady, subtle effervescence. A bold masculine sparkling wine which will enjoy the company of food.
This is a red sparkling wine that is quite different. It is an Australian sparkling Burgundy based on Merlot grape rather than the more traditional Shiraz. It is a pleasant tasting wine with chocolate, fruit-cake, plum, blackberry and dried spice flavors richly embedded throughout. There is however a limited supply available, so you might want to rush out and get it while it is still available.Chilean Sparkling Wine
On opening the bottle the vibrant fragrance of the strawberries envelopes the senses. The first sensation that tantalizes the mouth is the yeasty flavors, followed by strawberry fruit flavors that linger long after the wine is gone. A lovely deep pink color gives it visually spectacular presentation. It is an exquisite and refreshing quality sparkling wine produced in the Charmat method and is produced with the addition of natural strawberry pulp. The soft fruity flavor and delicate aroma is very agreeable. Fresita can be enjoyed as an aperitif, dessert wine or for any occasion. Serve well chilled.French Sparkling Wines
A light, delicate aroma of this sparkling wine lets you know instantly that this can only be Champagne. This wine has a spiritually uplifting delicacy that clearly speaks of the experience and skill of the wine maker. Lovely acidity and subtle, bready autolysis make it a drink to have for special occasions. Its limited availability will mean that this wine will be hard to find, but well worth the effort.
This is a rich flavored soft Champagne that is quite appealing. The flavors of orange peel, chocolate, lemon and creaming soda are harmoniously combined into a complex whole, with all the elemental flavor beginning derived from the yeast autolysis and en tirage. A superb wine to have with food whether for a party or a smaller get together.
This full flavored mature Champagne is best consumed with food due to its lacks of finesse. Its en tirage gives it its toasty-biscuity autolysis characters. The rich flavors remind you of lovely summer stone-fruit such as white flesh peaches and nectarines. There is a limited availability of this wine, so it might be hard to find.
A rich and sentimentally sweet Champagne that suggests a high percentage of Pinot Noir grapes in its blend. It has a strength of character and stamina to make it an ideal wine as an accompaniment to any food with enough complexity to entice the senses with every mouthful. Definitely a dinner party favorite.
If you have never heard of a Rosé Champagne, don't worry, you are not the only one. It is fairly well unknown on the market. But have just one sip and this seductive wine will instantly captivate anyone who has yet to discover its joys. It is a rich yet soft-textured wine with a myriad of complex yeast and fruit flavors and a pleasantly drying finish. Wonderful accompaniment to food but also a magical sparkling wine which can be served on its own for special occasions.
A mature wine with an exquisite balance between sweetness and crisp acidity. It is a mellow and toasty Champagne which is most agreeable to the pallet. With its savory, toasted nut and bran biscuit flavors giving instant pleasure to the senses one can only delight at the delicate hint of dried fruit including orange peel that tantalize as the wine progresses through the mouth.
A very fine and elegant Champagne, it draws its elegance from the high percentage of Chardonnay in the blend. Its robust citrus flavors and alluring toasty yeast autolysis character show its style and upbringing. A crisp, dry sparkling wine with taut acidity that would not let you down no matter what the occasion.
This wine is well developed for any occasion. It has the enough elegance to meet the needs of special get-togethers and enough boldness and weight to be used as an accompaniment to food at a dinner party. This sparkling wine has plenty of chocolate, citrus and bready yeast autolysis flavors, but it also has a wonderful lightness and elegance that makes it so very acceptable in any company.
A rich Champagne with strong yeasty autolysis characters. Flavors that remind you of sourdough, malt and soy nut. A complex sparkling wine with a determined acidity that tends to leave a drying finish on the pallet. It is a great accompaniment to food whether you are lunching or dinner. There is a limited supply available so might be hard to find.
One of the best value sparkling wines around. It is a big, rich, toasty wine with plenty of weight that has lovely candied fruit and bready aromas. Delicate and alluring flavors that dance on the tongue and that can be described as chocolate, biscuit, citrus, toast and cheese, with a crisp, vibrant finish. A very sexy drink. There is only a limited supply available.
A limited supply of this fine wine makes it even more valuable. The aroma of this sparkling shows lovely fresh bread and toasty yeast autolysis characters. Its dry and slightly nutty flavors give this rich, weighty wine its perfect balanced together with a good mouth-feel and an appropriate level of fine acidity making it a pleasure to drink. Serve it to your guest at a party with some lovely food and see wonderful things happen.
Champagne doesn't get much better than this. A full-flavored, rich and very complex wine made from an equal blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with at least four years' bottle maturation before the wine was disgorged. 'Grand Cru' is the highest vineyard classification. Orange, chocolate, jaffa, malt and soy characters were noted. More of a food wine than a sipper, thanks to plenty of weight and crisp acidity. Limited availability means that this wine might be hard to find.
This is a vintage Champagne made from grapes from one year, but it is made from two different blends. 82 percent Grand Cru vineyards and the remainder from Premier Cru vineyards. It has been bottle matured which has produced some lovely orange-peel, toasted-nut and citrus fruit flavors with biscuity, yeast autolysis character. A great wine for reasonably rich food with the right weight and intensity. Limited availability means it will be hard to find.
Pommery's most prestigious Champagne label is made from a selection of the three best Grand Cru vineyards in exceptional vintages. The wine has spent seven years en tirage. This is deliciously creamy yet bone-dry Champagne. A very elegant wine, it has hints of toasted nuts, bran biscuits and some chocolate-box aromas. Limited availability means that this wine will be hard to find.Italian Sparkling Wines
This luxuriantly fragrant sparkling wine is all strawberries and sunny gardens. There's a faint hint of Campari and balsamic vinegar, but otherwise it is a sweet and innocently silly drink. This makes it ideal for mornings, afternoons or evenings. It is fantastic by itself, served as an aperitif or with dessert. Serve it very, very well chilled. A glass and a bit for each person is perfect, any more and the sweetness might get you.New Zealand Sparkling Wines
An innovative sparkling wine, Lineaure Fraise is infused with natural strawberry essence. It is a gorgeous, salmon pink color, which perfectly captures the light in its fine bubbles. The strawberries give the wine a hint of sweetness. So whether you are meeting up for drinks with friends or having a more formal occasion, Lineaure Fraise makes sure you have fun.
This is an attractive full-bodied sparkling wine which is able to handle food with ease. The yeasty autolysis flavors reminds one of freshly baked biscuits or smoky, brown-bread. It is a very Champagne-like wine in its character with plenty of weight and flavor.
Good weight and mouth-feel with integrated autolysis and restrained grapefruit and green apple characters. A rich and creamy wine with a soft and off-dry finish. It is a beautiful, soft straw color, lightly touched with honey on the nose and a lingering finish on the palate. Made from hand-picked grapes, this is New Zealand's favorite premium méthode traditionnelle wine. This elegant wine is excellent choice for a special celebration - and helps make any event that much more memorable. It can handle tastes as serious as Teriyaki or something as light as salmon as a chic accompaniment.
This is a variation to the méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines by one of New Zealand's best-known wine makers. It is a super-premium sparkling wine made from one hundred percent Chardonnay grapes. This produces a wine that is fresh and vibrant and fruity but at the same time shows good bottle development. Balanced, supple wine which has cellaring potential.
A refined wine which has a big, rich and creamy style with mouth-filling appeal. Suitable for large or small get-togethers and both formal and informal occasions. The wine shows good bottle age and time on lees with mellow acidity. It has a complexity of integrated flavors that include lemon meringue pie, grapefruit and green apple.
This is a bold wine that really isn't a sipper style to be served on its own, but its rich flavor makes it an ideal accompaniment to food of any kind, and an ideal wine for a dinner party. It is an imposing, full-flavored sparkling wine with strong savory flavors that remind of cheese, brown toast and citrus fruits. It makes up in flavor what it lacks in finesse.